New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-07
THE PLAYERS MONUMENT.
RELOCATING THE ACTORS FUND SHAFT.
SERVICES AT THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BY MR.
PALMER AND Mr.. BoorH-AN ELEGY BY
MR. WINTER

|
variey the wide expanse OF Evergreens, that pre-
est of Long Island burial places. stands shaft OF
granite. Simple and almost unadorned, 1t Is yet I'M
posing enough through its size and its very sinpc ty
attract the attention not only OF the passcrby but oil
wanderers in far-of corners of the cemetery ms
stone has been raised TO max the restng-piace o'
those actors and actresses WHO have needed ere ths
last play PLAYED the kindly minstrations OF the
Actors Fund OF America.
This monument rails ed BY the contributions of actors
and actresses alone was tormall dsd Heated yesterday
with unostentatous but imposing ceremonies The IN
yitation, literally sent to members OF the theatrical
profession named O'Clock the hour at which these
| ce emonies would begin, bn; long before TINS
| time a crowd which eventually became u vast one
hogan TO como together TAO covered platforms had
been set up hard by the monument, one oil the N 10
contain the specially invited guests the other for tHe
chorus of ready volunteers from the dherent
operate companies in town. In the open spaces be-
tween and around these stands the crowd began TO
gather, and by halt-past 1t was difficult matter 10
force ones way through The congregation and gam
admittahce to the platform. Hardly majority Di
this pressing crowd, br sht with gay bonnets and
huttering ribbons composed of theatrical people.
The outside public evidently took keen interest III
the proceedings and had made its way from New-forK
aud Brooklyn to the far-of cemetery. However:
there plenty of wel-known actors actresses anu
managers on the platform Harry Miner guarded the
entrance and saw that all entitled to that honor
obtained place. A. NJ. Palmer sat in central IN
closure, having side Edwin Booth anu on the
other the Rev. DR.. HoughtOn IN black cass0ck ana
biretta William Winter, the poet of the occasion,
sat near as did Joseph Jefferson, who had with HIM
ore of his grand0ns brght-iOoSing youngster with
the regular jefferson features Edward Aronson /.
Henry French Colonel Sim, E. f. Knowles, Joan T.
Smith DIR. Robertson, William Henderson, Harry
Watkins and Marshall Nal DRY were among the
trustees who busted themselves with the arrange
ments. To the actors and actresses present
would tax all reasonable space. Among those on the
platform, however, Mrs. ID. z. Bowers, Nine
Ponis. Cora Tanner. Gertrude Kellogg, Chandos
Fulton, Francis Wilson, Joseph Wheelock. Matt Nor
gan Marcus Mayer, L. d. Price, Joseph Tooker, II.
B. Lonsdae and Mrs. Leland. At last the hour
struck. and few minutes aterward the 7th Regiment
Band began to play a selection from RO-sni's Moses
in Egypt" under the direction of Signor Cappa.
When these solemn strains had ceased the Rev. DR..
Houghton offered prayer and most OF those present
aterward joined with HIM in the words OF the Lords
PRAYER. The president OF the fund.- A. NJ Palmer
then delivered an address which was as iollows:
and help higher aims aud better efforts the
profession; tendery for and
Of charity; and finally 10 provide decent and Christian
burial for those unfortunate players who when they
last b, Jay aGS I e me cef Sntes To Which N. Aeofs
Fund Of America is devoted ,c, ~, ,, -, 49,, |
duty. We with rayer with speech aud
column the high and holy uses for which they de-
sgne There must Oe Tor Al ." US nIhK certain 'ati,
pay respect which those who ALREADY
OF our guild may through the coming find longedor
silence and eternal sleep"
The custom OF beautiful homes for the dead
Win ts aS FoSfes. A our American lie No onsers it true
as was sung by the New. Ems land poet. that
Tho drearies. spot in all the land
WITH TS death .can 5n sa set 4SaT Nature. hand
And none from that OF Art"
the places the dead lie the beautiful
their respective neighnorhoodsawAys carefully watched
do ent with the flowers the
sa QT s is- Of Il. has @ and a p
them grounds beautiful by nature made 6eant
neal
law holiday the most poetic and sacred ;ave one IN the
ngy laid upon the graves not only OF those who spilled Their
do aud to die country mis-
ample worthy set has been followed BY the whole peo
pie North aud south in the decoration the holy
day with natures choices, embem. Of The graves OF their
deep and sweet significance 1t speaks me Of The
the religion neron-an influence which mas begot
sorrow an4Ssd With GsaT for those Who to for
with campess to contemplate n.S' swiftly approaching DAY
II wSs W IN solemn Conviction OF caring
on own poor dead IN ssoorasn9s WIN he customs
too neglected that the
nbsoh OF S yon %nes today Ts pot Of soSad
upp when we stand Is the nrst one ever devoted in America
to tine exclusive burial Of the members OF The dramatic poe.
place where considerable number OF PLAYERS are Inferred
NOnrofessionai q which actors are msnbers
and in these enclosures
5n ~ the if Of EEs Under whose projecting shallow lie
whom yOn have known and oysd IN ne and Tins large
hearted and most worthy organization has similar plots
in other cities in which eeieye members 1t our
Ground has been devised provided except THIS one
% NC SaG GuT
stances help S Sher ep mas " Wiz Sns II % assisted
founding hospitals in building GhnTehes , n proydSs
never until II, efforts were to That sn by h' na
OF the unirieady or rs own dead from p.1per grave. M
way which actre,s of Americ. have under
@ Certainly that such an
should d TINS day. record In the eSmWe7c.
TO tread the path OF their semposed duty with cautious
~eTs limited We dead his cemetery or
and laid them in the public grounds We
TWO wears had hardly passed however before we
objects duty gound me burial. g which
At least Of The enpr ys OF s beautiful a
was forced upon only by those cCnsof which
have spoken Sn! ~ y % DPSns o9r
At the meeting June 1888 trustees
authority and we're empowered to select and purchase suit
The matter was by suseq action OF the Board
Cd e n asS pa c0&f T RSo% oS
ecy ana Ge e. % rd
mainly conducted by that wise and unfering friend OF our
sSsfsSs a d
eS Sn Of twenty lots was parshased
s6ss but % sF ss4 s''s a ana p
sq ES% @ aay & Of our p
have here found In 1883 The hrs movement for
the interest Of all classes OF profession finally
trustees et justified extending money purchase
and enclosure OF the they ola
trenchng further the funds for It's ornamentaton Ac
cordngl determined TO start an independent suDscrp
ton th. object
This speedily and the OF a. $50 secured.
over OOO which contributed (chehy through the
OF Mr. John SMITH by the lodges OF the Protective
the United states the sub
scrpton angushed and seemed about to die when remark
able of interest II took place Tho Editor OF me
who also the secretary OF the fund act
ing authorization Of the trustees made the sth
January sngulsry eloquent and fevsnt appeal 10
the profe asking them 20 contribute the
500 which 10 complete the amount
agreed upon for the monument This zeal came at the
and IL the atent generosity aud inter
est OF profession friends throughout the country
did 10 that wceks
time OF It's the OF 49, 50 90 or 1900
asked for had been subscribed and Its
that the surplus would be used IN
providing headsOnes and beaut ying the grounds the
subscriptions continued 10 until the great sum OF
81 CO. 205 go more than originally asked Tor